Curcuma plant named ‘Curtina’

ABSTRACT

A new  curcuma  plant particularly distinguished by deep-purple flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins is disclosed.

Genus and species: Curcuma alismatifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Curtina’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of curcuma,botanically known as Curcuma alismatifolia, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Curtina’. The new cultivar originated from ahybridization made in May 2001 in De Lier, The Netherlands. The femaleparent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998248-03’ (unpatented),while the male parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998231-02’(unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2001 and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by in vitro propagation by shoot micropropagation (axillarybud) in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and De Lier, The Netherlands over atwo-year period. The present invention has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied with the EuropeanUnion on Aug. 10, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in De Lier, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Deep purple flowers with red tips; and    -   2) Green leaves with red veins.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new curcuma plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 140-dayold plant grown in a greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds andfoliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Curtina’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inDe Lier, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 140-day oldplants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 14-cm pots in 2005 andgrown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 28° C. Observations weremade in the spring. Color readings were taken under natural light in thegreenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Zingiberaceae.        -   Botanical.—Curcuma alismatifolia.        -   Common name.—Hidden Lily.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘1998248-03’, a proprietary            dark-pink-flowered curcuma plant (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘1998231-02’, a proprietary purpled-flowered            curcuma plant (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation by shoot micropropagation            (axillary bud).        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—10 days.        -   Root description.—RHS 155D, moderately free branching,            non-fibrous, slightly fleshy.        -   Average number of rhizomes (per plant).—6.        -   Rhizome diameter.—0.5 cm.-   Plant:    -   -   Form/growth.—Rhizotomatous herbaceous perennial, shoots grow            from the base.        -   Habit.—Broad, upright with arching leaves.        -   Height (measured from the soil).—46.8 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—42.6 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—15-weeks for a            10 cm to 15-cm pot.        -   Keeping quality.—28 days.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Lorate.        -   Size.—Length (fully expanded): 50.0 cm. Width: 3.6 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheathing, winged; average length of wing is 10.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Arching.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B to RHS 137C. Lower surface:            RHS 137B.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Color: Main vein: RHS 166A to RHS            183A. Secondary veins: RHS 137B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Spring.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—3 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Arrangement.—Terminal racemes grow from the centers of the            shoots.        -   Size.—Length: 13.4 cm. Diameter: 5.9 cm.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowers.—Size: Length: 2.9 cm. Width: 1.8 cm. Shape:            Irregular corolla consisting of three petals, one of which            is conspicuous and colorful, flanked by a smaller petal on            each side; opposite the large petal is a small labellum            consisting of two fused stamen. Color: Upper petal: Upper            surface: Darker than RHS 83A while the base is slightly            lighter. Lower surface: RHS 83A while the base is lighter.            Lateral and lower petals: Upper surface: RHS 85A to RHS 85B            while the base is RHS 155B. Lower surface: RHS 85A to RHS            85B while the base is RHS 155B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: 14. Shape: Upper bracts: Broadly            ovate. Lower bracts: Reniform to orbicular. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glossy. Size:            Length: 5.4 cm; the lower bracts are 3.6 cm. Width: 4.1 cm.            Color: Upper surface: RHS 71B to RHS 71C; the tip is RHS            N79B; the base is slightly tinged with RHS 147C            (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 144B with an RHS            183B to RHS 183C (greyed-purple) upper half. Lower surface:            RHS 71C to RHS 72A; the tip is RHS N79B; the base is            slightly tinged with RHS 147C (yellow-green); the lower            bracts are RHS 144A with RHS 183C (greyed-purple) tips.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 137A. Length: 34.6 cm. Diameter:            0.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, rounded, slightly glossy. Angle:            Vertical (90°).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 2, petaloid, fertile. Filament: Length:            1.4 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color: RHS 85D: tip is darker, RHS            86A. Anther color: RHS 155D. Pollen: Absent.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Length: 2.0 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.9 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS N155A.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS N155A.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed to date.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date. Similar to    other curcuma varieties.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Curtina’ differs from the female parent ‘1998248-03’ (unpatented), byhaving deep-purple flowers with red tips, while ‘1998248-03’ hasdark-pink flowers with green tips.

‘Curtina’ differs from the male parent ‘1998231-02’ (unpatented), byhaving deep-purple flowers and green leaves with red veins, while‘1998231-02’ has purple flowers and green leaves with no veins.

‘Curtina’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Curleno’ (unpatented), byhaving deep-purple flowers and green leaves with red veins, while‘Curleno’ has pink-white flowers and green leaves with no veins. Inaddition, ‘Curtina’ has a long flower stem, while ‘Curleno’ has a mediumflower stem.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of curcuma plant as shown and describedherein.